Illuminated sign



Jan. 4, 1938. c. J. WAMSER ILLUMINATED SIGN- Filed Sept 23, 1955 g Shets-Sheet 1 b C-J-Warnsar Jan. 4, 1938. c. J. WAMSER I 2,104,337 v ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed Sept. 23, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /7 1 "was W iA z gg Patented Jan. 4, 1 938 ILLUMINATED SIGN Charles J; Wainser, Milwaukee, -.Application September 23, 1935, Serial No. 41,771

2 Claims. (01. 40-130) This invention pertains to illuminated signs, and more particularly to signs utilizing illuminated gas tubes for thecharacters or letters.

Serious difficulties encountered in signs of the 1 foregoing type resulted'in attempts to protect the tubes against the elements, andalso obtain maximum effectiveness of the illumination in a simple and inexpensive structure; At the present time it is common. practise in cheaper types of signs to mount the tubes on the outer face of the front panelof the sign, thus exposing the tubes to the elements, falling objects, and so' on, and making the same very difficult to handlev and ship-without damage to the tubes. Furthermore, the effect obtained by a sign of the foregoing character is not themost desirable, inasmuch as the general outlineiofi the characters formed by the tube is generally provided on the face of the sign, and, therefore, viewing the same from an angle,a double vision is obtained, and the characters become confused.-

. ,It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide an exceedingly simple and inexpensive sign employing illuminated tubes, in which the tubes are housed to protect them against damage from the elements, such as rain, snow, and hail, or other falling objects, as well as in shipping or handling, and at the same time provide a maximum illuminating effect.

7 Incidental to the foregoing, a more specific object of the invention is toprovide a sign casing in; which the illuminated tubes are mounted upon a supporting plate spaced rearwardly of. the front panel of the casing to allow suiiicient room for the bends required in forming various words or charactersfrom a single tube, so that the strokes are uniform. and distinct.

Astill further object resides in closing the front of the sign when desired, by inexpensive transparentmeans, such as a thin glass panel, or one having raised; portions formed therein and conforming in contour with the strokes ofthe tubes may be made as come within the scope of the claims. 1

' In the accompanying drawings are illustrated several completeiexamples of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

Figure l is an elevation of a sign constructed in accordance with one form of. the present invention; 4

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through the same, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed section, taken on the line 3 -3 of Figure 1, and illustrating the application of a transparent panel for covering the front cut-outpanel.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section of a modified form of theinvention.

Figure 5 is anenlarged fragmentary detail illustrating the manner in which the tube is mounted behind the front cut-out panel.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of stillanother form of. the invention, with parts broken away and in section. I

Figure '7 is a vertical section of still another modification, and 7 Figures 8 and 9 are enlarged fragmentary detail sections illustrating modified forms of translucent panels which may be employed to house the illuminating tubes.

, Referring, now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, that form of the invention illustrated infFigur'es 1, 2, and 3 comprises a casing, indicated by the numeral l0, and including front plate H, which forms a partial closure for the casing. The remaining portion of the casing is closed by a removable front panel I2 extending entirely across the casing, and secured thereto by bolts or screws 24, as will be hereinafter described.

The front plate H is provided with a cut-out portion I3, in which, a removable panel I4 is deta'chably secured. Both the panels l2 and 14 are provided with cut-out characters It, conforming in contour to the strokes of. the illuminating tubes l1 positioned rearwardly thereof. In order to support the tubes I! the present form of the invention includes pans I8 bolted or otherwise secured to the front plate or the casing, and spaced therefrom sufiiciently to permit any arrangement of bends in the tube necessary to forming the letters or strokes of the characters in such a manner as to provide uniform single strokes defining clean-cut characters.

OFFICE Figure 3 illustrates in detail the manner in which the pans 18 are attached to the front plate of the casing, as well as the method of attaching the removable panels l2 and M, respectively, the structures being identical, as shown in Figure 2. The pans I8 are provided with upper and lower flanges l9 and 20, respectively, both of which are secured to the front plate ll by bolts 2|. The top flange I9 is provided with an offset 22 spaced from the front plate II to permit insertion of an offset upper edge 23 formed on the panel I2. The lower end of the panel is secured to the flange 20 of the pan l8 by bolts 24.

As previously explained, the same structure is employed in connection with the attachment of the panel l4, and also in that form of the in vention illustrated in Figure 4, and in all instances where it is desired to employ removable cut-out front panels.

When it is desired to cover the cut-out portions N5 of the panels [2 and M by means of a translucent or transparent glass panel 25, as shown in Figure 3, the same is merely positioned back of the cut-out panels, and held in place by clips 26 positioned between the cut-out panel and the adjacent pan, the clips being held in position by the attaching bolts for the panels.

Referring particularly to Figure 3, it will be noted that the tube i1 is secured to the pan i8 by a conventional tube support 2?, which serves as an insulator, as well as a clamp, to which the tube is detachably connected. The electrodes ll formed at the ends of the tubes may extend into conventional bushings 28 carried by the pans or tube supports, or they may merely project through openings in the tube supports for attachment of the wires from the usual transformer.

In that form of the invention illustrated in Figure 4, it will be noted that the individual pan for each set of tubes is eliminated, and a single partition 29, secured to the sides of the casing in, serves as a support for the tubes.

Figure 6 illustrates a modification in which the casing 10, which in this particular instance is designed for a double face sign, is provided with oppositely disposed closure plates 30 hingedly connected with the casing Ill at their lower edges, and locked in closed position by bolts 3|, or any other suitable means, such as looks or latches. In this form of the invention it is proposed to support the tubes l1 upon the inner faces of the plates 30, which facilitates access to the tubes when the plates are swung downwardly and supported in a horizontal position by chains 32, or other suitable connections. A particular advantage of this structure resides in the fact that the operator, in positioning the tubes upon the plates 30, has practically no difficulty in properly alining the tube, such as might be encountered when the tubes are mounted upon a stationary support, and the cut-out closure for the panels are removable. While Figure 6 illustrates a double-face sign, it is to be understood that the same can be applied to a single-face sign, in which instance the central partition 29' can be eliminated, as well as one of the hinged plates 30. V

Figure 7 illustrates a modification of that form of the invention shown in Figure 6, and differs therefrom only in that the tubes I! are mounted upon the rear wall 33 of the casing l". In this arrangement the electrodes ll, formed at the ends of the tubes, do not extend through the plate 33, but are laterally offset for connecdistinctive at a maximum distance.

; raised portion 34' corresponding in contour to the strokes of the tube I1, thus serving to diffuse and magnify the lighting effect of the tube, which materially enlarges the appearance of the strokes, and renders the sign more attractive and The panel 35, illustrated in Figure 9, accomplishes similar results, although possibly not as effectively, by means of the pressed out raised portion 35', instead of the solid raised portion 34'. The principal advantage of this type of panel resides in its reduced costs of manufacture.

From the foregoing explanation, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be noted that an illuminated sign of exceedingly simple construction, and consequently low cost of manufacture, has been provided, which not only protects the illuminating tube against damage from the elements, and in handling, but also obtains a maximum illuminating effect, in that the inherent brilliancy of the tube is not obstructed, and in view of the fact that ample space is provided for the tube, the same can be bent in any desired form to provide uniform, clear-cut strokes, regardless of the contour of the characters or letters. As a simple example, Figure illustrates one manner in which a plurality of letters may be formed from a single tube, without duplicating any of the strokes.

It will also be appreciated that provision has been made to materially facilitate accessibility of the tubes, as shown in that form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 and '7, wherein the front of the casing is hingedly connected for attachment of the tubes directly thereto, or to a suitable stationary support within the casing. Lastly, the provision of a translucent or transparent panel, such as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, not only serves to completely protect the tubes against rain, snow, and moisture, but also materially enhances their illuminating effect.

I claim:

1. In an illuminated sign, a casing including a front wall having an opening, an opaque panel provided with cut-out characters and positioned in said opening, a pan detachably secured to the front wall at its upper and lower edges and to the bottom edge of said opaque panel, the upper edge of said panel being clamped between said front wall and pan, a translucent panel positioned at the rear of said opaque panel, and an illuminated tube carried by said pan in the rear of said translucent panel and comprising strokes conforming to those of the cut-out characters in the opaque panel.

2. In an illuminated sign, a casing including a front wall provided with an opening, an opaque panel having cut-out characters positioned in said opening, a pan detachably secured to the front wall at its upper and lower edges and to the bottom edge of said opaque panel, the upper edge of said panel being clamped between said front wall and pan, a. translucent panel posi- V tioned in the rear of said opaque panel, clips prising strokes conforming to those of the cutout characters in said opaque panel, and detachable supports for said tube carried by said pan, the end terminals of said tube projecting through said pan.

CHARLES J. WAMSER. 

